The San Jose Sharks made a notable roster move on Sunday, placing veteran defenseman Nick Leddy on waivers-a decision that likely signals the return of some key blue-liners from injury and a looming roster crunch.
Leddy, 34, has been one of seven defensemen on San Jose’s active roster, but the team is already maxed out at 23 players. With both Vincent Desharnais and Shakir Mukhamadullin nearing a return from upper-body injuries, the Sharks were going to need to make room. This move appears to be the first domino.
Desharnais has been sidelined since Dec. 1, while Mukhamadullin landed on injured reserve on Jan. 6. Both were back on the ice for practice Sunday in South Florida, and Desharnais could be ready to rejoin the lineup as soon as Monday night when the Sharks face the Florida Panthers on the road.
Leddy’s season has been a stop-and-start affair. He’s appeared in just 19 of the team’s 47 games so far, a mix of early-season injury and healthy scratches limiting his opportunities. He was in the lineup Friday against Detroit, logging 17:27 of ice time and picking up an assist in a 4-2 loss to the Red Wings.
The veteran blueliner started the season with some momentum, suiting up for the Sharks’ first seven games before suffering an upper-body injury in the first period against the Rangers on Oct. 23.
That setback kept him out for 11 games. He returned on Nov. 15 in Seattle, but since then, he’s only dressed for 11 more games.
Now in his 16th NHL season, Leddy has carved out a long and steady career since being drafted in the first round by Chicago back in 2009. He spent four seasons with the Blackhawks and played a role in their 2013 Stanley Cup run. Across 1,061 career games, Leddy has been a reliable presence on the blue line, offering mobility and puck-moving ability from the back end.
He landed in San Jose after being waived by the St. Louis Blues on July 2 and claimed by the Sharks the next day.
He’s in the final season of a four-year, $16 million deal he signed with St. Louis in 2022.
For the Sharks, this is about making space for younger, healthier legs on the blue line. For Leddy, it could be another turning point in a long career that’s seen plenty of highs. Whether he clears waivers or finds another home, his experience and resume still carry weight around the league.